The School Play 1966

Saint Joan

A Chronicle Play by Bernard Shaw

From Brian Wilson

N March
1966 a quite elaborate production of
Shaw's "Saint Joan" was staged in conjunction with girls from the
Girls Grammar School and from Southover Manor School. (The latter
was a rather up-market private girls' school which occupied the
large property known as Southover Manor almost opposite Anne of
Cleves' House in Southover High St.) For reasons that are not
clear the play was never reported in the Barbican magazine for
that year. The programs (see below) were specially printed for
each of the performances which took place over a period of
several days.

We would like to thank the Headmistresses of Lewes
County Grammar School for Girls and Southover Manor School for
allowing their girls to join the cast, also the many boys and
friends of the school who have contributed to this
production.

SCENE 1 - Castle of Vaucouleurs

SCENE 2 - Chinon, in Touraine

SCENE 3 - Orleans

SCENE 4 - English Camp

SCENE 5 - Cathedral of Rheims

1429 February

1429 March

1429 April

1429 May

1429 July

Interval of twenty minutes during which
coffee will be served in the dining hall

This is the story of Joan of Arc the saintly heroine of France
who rescued her nation from the hands of the English towards the
end of the Hundred Years' War

After Agincourt in 1415 the English King Henry V conquered
northern France while the French King Charles VI raved in his
lunacy, his nobles quarrelled and the common people suffered and
despaired. By the Treaty of Troyes in 1420 Charles VI's queen had
agreed in his name that their daughter Catherine should marry
Henry V and that when Charles died Henry and his heirs should be
kings of France as well as England. Her own son, the Dauphin, was
to be set aside.

But Henry V died in 1422 leaving a son of only 9
months of age : 2 months later the mad Charles VI died also and
the infant Henry VI was proclaimed King of France as well as
England. But many of the French would not willingly accept him,
preferring the rule of the Dauphin, a weak and feeble creature
incapable of leadership. His cause seemed hopeless, particularly
as the great Duke of Burgundy was an ally of the English.

Then Joan the Maid came upon the scene to rally the French in
the name of something quite new : patriotism. The war was
transformed from a personal, quarrel between two kings to a war
between two nations, and the English were doomed to failure.

Please do not smoke in the
Hall

More on St Joan

Simon Pettitt

From the Sussex Express and County Herald - Friday, March 25 1966

ERNARD SHAW'S 'Saint Joan' presents a challenge to any group of actors. To
a comparatively inexperienced school society it holds any number of pitfalls.
All credit then to the Lewes County Grammar School for Boys for deciding in
the first place that they could attempt it, and secondly for staging a
commendable production.

The first performance was given on Wednesday and the last is tomorrow
(Saturday), The fact that the majority of Shaw's plays are too long and he
takes too much time in making his point will not worry the majority.

The action must be sustained; at a high level of interest throughout,
however, otherwise it becomes a test of endurance, both for the cast and for
the audience who have to sit patiently for over three hours on hard wooden
seats. I feel one should pay the school the compliment of assuming they would
like to be assessed on a high standard. In which case, 'Saint Joan' does not,
perhaps, quite measure up to the merits of some previous productions.

Diction

This may not be altogether the fault of the producer and the cast, but to
the difficulties in variably encountered in tackling Shaw. There are, however,
a few criticisms I feel I should make.

In the first two scenes I began to wonder if elocution lessons are still
part of a school's curriculum, as the diction in some cases was poor. There
were exceptions, am glad to say, and some of the later work was outstandingly
good.

Several of those taking part have yet to learn that it is not necessary to
shout to gain emphasis. Much more effect is achieved by variations in tone and
delivering the lines deliberately.

It might also be mentioned that on a number of occasions the characters had
their backs to the audience when a simple movement so that they turned
naturally would have enabled their words to be heard more clearly.

Finally, much of the dialogue is too fast and becomes garbled, I though
bearing in mind the length of the play it may have been necessary in order to
finish in; reasonable time.

In spite of this, it is a satisfying effort which holds the interest, and I
doubt whether many of those present even notice these points.

Key Role

The school once again called on Lewes County Grammar School Girls and Southover
Manor School for help with the few female parts and they are fortunate in
their choice for the key role of Saint Joan.

Deborah Sharp gives a splendidly sustained performance throughout, and does
well in a role that has tested many experienced actresses. The other girls -
Susan Kingsley, Penny Adams and Sarah Schofleld - add colour to the scene in
fleeting appearances.

Roland Boorman is outstanding with an easy and confident manner as the Earl
of Warwick, and his scene with Martyn Relf as a chaplain and Michael Woollard
as the Bishop of Beauvais is particularly convincing.

Vivian Newman makes a suitably weak and pathetic figure of the Dauphin,
Roderick Hall is impressively calm and efficient as Canon John D'Estivet, and
Robin Noel is well cast as the Archbishop of Rheims.

Producer Peter Taylor is responsible for a well balanced production and
deals capably with the many problems which arise in staging a play of this
type. There were some good lighting effects, but the limitations of the facilities
were occasionally revealed. In all a very worthwhile effort which no doubt gives considerable
satisfaction to those taking part and pleases the audience.
J.C.